Posted on Jul 21, 2015
Is The Jump Master Responsible In The Training Death Of A Paratrooper ?
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A jumpmaster’s failure to properly inspect a paratrooper’s static lines was determined the “single most definitive failure” that led to the parachuting death of a young female soldier, an Army investigation has found.
According to the informal AR 15-6 investigation, Schmigel’s equipment was misrouted so that, when exiting the plane, she became a “towed jumper.” While be being towed, the subsequent jumper exited the plane and Schmigel became entangled in his T-11 parachute. Schmigel reportedly died from fatal lacerations to the throat and a broken neck. The entire incident lasted three to four seconds, according to the report.
The findings, obtained by Army Times through a Freedom of Information Act request, are from the investigation conducted within the 82nd Airborne Division; another investigation represents the Army's formal query into the incident. That safety accident report by the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center has been completed and sent to command for review, and will be released in November or December, according to USACRC FOIA officer Vickie Hendrix.
http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/careers/army/enlisted/2015/07/20/report-jumpmaster-cited-training-death-paratrooper/30374491/
According to the informal AR 15-6 investigation, Schmigel’s equipment was misrouted so that, when exiting the plane, she became a “towed jumper.” While be being towed, the subsequent jumper exited the plane and Schmigel became entangled in his T-11 parachute. Schmigel reportedly died from fatal lacerations to the throat and a broken neck. The entire incident lasted three to four seconds, according to the report.
The findings, obtained by Army Times through a Freedom of Information Act request, are from the investigation conducted within the 82nd Airborne Division; another investigation represents the Army's formal query into the incident. That safety accident report by the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center has been completed and sent to command for review, and will be released in November or December, according to USACRC FOIA officer Vickie Hendrix.
http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/careers/army/enlisted/2015/07/20/report-jumpmaster-cited-training-death-paratrooper/30374491/
Airborne School
Fort Liberty
Posted >1 y ago
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Jumpmasters assume responsibility for each paratrooper at initial manifest call until they safely exit the aircraft and become the responsibility of the ground commander. So yes, they are responsible. This is why it is such a hard school. The military doesn't call anyone a "Master" unless they are.
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SPC George Long
MSG (Join to see) - Thank you for your explanation. I am aware the school is difficult and expect only the best be chosen. In '69 I was in Womack Hospital When a large night jump was conducted, The injury rate was un believable. I also once in Fredericksburg VA watched a Golden Knight fall to his death. Even training in the military can be very dangerous but the civilian world does not see it. So explanations like yours to the public are sorely needed. Again thank you.
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SSG Jeff Binkiewicz
I echo your commentary MSG. Although I would have to hold accountable the Jumpmaster who JMPI'D The soldier as well as the safety or safeties on that door.
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SGT Felicia King
It is a difficult school, as well it should. Back in 2005 when we got back from a deployment the command tried to send a bunch of soldiers to Jumpmaster school because a lot would be leaving. NOT ONE of them passed.
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As a former paratrooper and master parachutist I have to say absolutely the jumpmaster is responsible. Not to reiterate MSG Sparks comments because he is completely right. Being directly responsible for more than 140 lives is heavy burden, one that any jumpmaster bears by choice. Its the jumpmaster who is responsible for the actions and capabilities of their safeties. The fact that a safety failed to properly inspect the rigging of a soldier is the responsibility of the primary jumpmaster of the chalk. However there are several other things that are at fault here too. I was also an S3 Air so the fact that this jumpmaster was give only 4 safeties and every one of them brand new is inexcusable also. There should always be an experienced safety on each door teamed up with new safeties. The Battalion Commander or Operation Officer should have caught this and stopped it if the S3 Air didn't. If it got that far the primary jumpmaster should have said something. Ultimately its the Primary that responsible for everything that happens on their chalk.
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SGT (Join to see)
SFC Joseph Bosley, Thank you for further explanation from someone who understands and knows the policies. Airborne Sergeant!
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SFC (Join to see)
Wish I scrolled a little further, I just posted the same thing minus all the reasons behind why this shouldnt of happened. I think its unfair to hold only the Jumpmaster responsible IMHO there were multiple things that led to this unfortunate event and the investigation should be pointing multiple fingers not just one.
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Stepping away from the responsibility piece for just a second.
Safety is Vigilance. It's doing the little things right 100% of the time. Sure there are things you can never foresee, but if you do all the little things right, the chances of getting hurt drop dramatically. Unfortunately, when small mistakes creep in, they compound, and they become major issues.
The other problem that happens, and this not an excuse, is "muscle memory." There's an old adage. "Muscle memory will save your life, muscle memory will get you killed." Know how to do it backwards and forwards to the point where you don't have to think about how to do it. To where your subconscious mind just takes over. The problem with that is, your conscious mind is what double checks everything and makes sure you didn't screw things up. Vigilance.
There have been times where I was working on something that I was EXTREMELY proficient at, finished the task, and realized I just had no memory of doing it. It was all subconscious. I had to go back through it with a fine tooth comb, and make sure I didn't mess it up. If you're dealing with an administrative task.. that's likely no big deal. If you're dealing with throwing someone out of a plane, and 9.8m per second squared... that's a huge deal, especially with lots of people, as each instance increases the likelihood that you screwed up one thing.
The easy answer to this was Negligence (to the point of Dereliction), though if you asked the JM in private he would probably say "I checked it. I know I checked it." And will doubt himself forever.
Not making excuses for him. The investigation and report says where the failures occur. He wore those wings and accepted the responsibility that came with them. And losing someone in training just shouldn't happen.
Safety is Vigilance. It's doing the little things right 100% of the time. Sure there are things you can never foresee, but if you do all the little things right, the chances of getting hurt drop dramatically. Unfortunately, when small mistakes creep in, they compound, and they become major issues.
The other problem that happens, and this not an excuse, is "muscle memory." There's an old adage. "Muscle memory will save your life, muscle memory will get you killed." Know how to do it backwards and forwards to the point where you don't have to think about how to do it. To where your subconscious mind just takes over. The problem with that is, your conscious mind is what double checks everything and makes sure you didn't screw things up. Vigilance.
There have been times where I was working on something that I was EXTREMELY proficient at, finished the task, and realized I just had no memory of doing it. It was all subconscious. I had to go back through it with a fine tooth comb, and make sure I didn't mess it up. If you're dealing with an administrative task.. that's likely no big deal. If you're dealing with throwing someone out of a plane, and 9.8m per second squared... that's a huge deal, especially with lots of people, as each instance increases the likelihood that you screwed up one thing.
The easy answer to this was Negligence (to the point of Dereliction), though if you asked the JM in private he would probably say "I checked it. I know I checked it." And will doubt himself forever.
Not making excuses for him. The investigation and report says where the failures occur. He wore those wings and accepted the responsibility that came with them. And losing someone in training just shouldn't happen.
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SGT (Join to see)
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS, You are 100% correct. In jump school, our stick leader was a Major. On his second jump he pulled the wrong slip and did the wrong PLF and broke his leg and arm. On the surface, looking at what he did was totally his fault. In the investigation, it was found out his training NCO knew about the problem with the Major not understanding what to do, when he pulled a slip and not understanding fully about how to do a proper PLF. The Major should have been recycled until he was proficient at both. I don't know if it was because of his rank or the laziness of the NCO. It was an accident waiting to happen. For those of you who do not know what pulling a slip is, it's pulling on the correct riser to direct you to come down as much in a straight line as possible, to the DZ. If the wrong riser is pulled, the wind can carry you far away from the DZ, and if you don't do the correct PLF, you're going to get hurt. A PLF ( parachute landing fall) is used when you touch down. There are four PLF directions. A front PLF, a left and right and backward PLF. Using the correct PLF, you will touch down safely. How did we know which riser to pull and which PLF to use? Listening, watching, practicing. If our NCO had not done his job, one of us could have died. We even practiced how to kick away from the aircraft if we got slammed into it. Unfortunately for this young paratrooper, her fate was doomed when proper procedure wasn't followed.
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MSgt Marvin Kinderknecht
I Agree SGT. as a B-29 Flight Engineer on B-29's I had to know where all 121 switches were and what they did in case we had electrical failure. happened to me once.I hit switches so fast I could not believe it. I don't know if it was muscle memory or brain instink. They have to move together. No chance to "freeze" in an emergency.
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